Officials lifted the townwide ban on drinking tap water Thursday afternoon after water quality test results showed no contamination.

The ban was lifted just after 4 p.m., a few hours after the emergency management center on Riverside Avenue ran out of bottled water. Water sampled from six locations across town showed contaminants to be either very low or nondetectable, according to Robert Lima, the superintendent of the Water Department.

“We’re very fortunate,” Lima said of the results, which came from three rounds of testing. “Things could have been a lot worse.”

Officials credited quick action, which started as soon as Somerset Ridge, the health care center on Brayton Avenue, reported a loss of water Tuesday afternoon. More than a million gallons of water was flushed to get rid of hydroseeding material that had entered through a fire hydrant.

No one was known to have become sick.

BUSINESSES FORCED TO ADAPT

Things were already bad enough for many businesses by the time the ban was lifted after about 48 hours.

Restaurants like Chili’s and Ma Raffa’s were closed for a second day Thursday, and The Comfort Zone — which opened just last Friday on Riverside Avenue — had to close because it had no way to wash the dishes it used.

Two Dunkin' Donuts on Route 138 that couldn’t serve coffee on Wednesday opened on Thursday by using bottled water. The Rise Cafe, which closed on Wednesday, was open Thursday because it couldn’t afford another day without customers.

Workers at the cafe had to measure out bottled water while making coffee to ensure it wouldn’t be too strong or watered down. Dishes had to be brought to the owner’s house in Dartmouth to be cleaned, and no lattes could be served because the machine was connected to tap water. The owners found out about the ban only at 4 a.m. Wednesday when a customer called to alert them.

“It’s such a hassle,” said Jessica Amaral, whose brother Jason owns the cafe. “Hopefully someone will be sued and we’ll get some money back, but I doubt it.”

Where restaurants struggled, some stores got a rush of people looking for water.

Rite Aid also ordered a special shipment and stacked cases of water just inside the front door. Alie Karam, who owns the Somerset Country Store on County Street, ordered an extra delivery of water and added “We Have Water Gallons” to the electronic sign outside.

“The first night, it was crazy,” he said. “We’re selling some, but not like the first night.”

Page 2 of 3 -
Selectman Patrick O’Neil acknowledged the impact on restaurants at a press conference late Thursday afternoon and urged residents to give them business.

“Now is the time to get the businesses up and running,” he said. “Some of those folks, they live day-to-day.”

INVESTIGATION CONTINUES

Felony or misdemeanor charges against Hydrograss Technology, the company whose workers connected to a town fire hydrant for water, are likely coming soon,. “I can almost guarantee charges,” Police Chief Joseph Ferreira said.

Material used in the hydroseed mix, including fertilizer, backed into the public water supply, but officials weren’t sure exactly how much.

Officials also reiterated that Somerset won’t need to pay for costs related to the incident, which were estimated at $20,000 for water alone. When combined with police, fire and highway workers who had to push aside their normal duties, “it was a very expensive venture,” O’Neil said.

VOLUNTEERS PITCH IN

Handing out thousands of cases of bottled water first required a scramble, and then hours worth of dedication each day as residents lined up in their cars along Riverside Avenue.

“Everyone’s helping out,” said Stephen Rivard, a retired fire chief who is now the town’s emergency management director. “It’s about community.”

Roxanne Hilliard, a retired teacher, said she’s found that many people are very thankful for the help. She pitched in for four hours Tuesday night, another five hours on Wednesday, and was back at it early Thursday morning. She was among the dozen or more volunteers who unloaded a truck full of water bottle cases Tuesday night.

“I haven’t had to go to the gym in a couple days,” she said with a laugh.

A group of six inmates from the Bristol County House of Correction helped distribute water Thursday morning as part of a regular work program. Robert Pacheco, a 38-year-old inmate from Fall River, said he enjoyed having the chance to work on something other than public-works projects, which usually involve picking up roadside trash.

“I like helping people out,” he said.

Rivard also thanked the Somerset police and the town’s two state legislators, Rep. Patricia Haddad and Sen. Michael Rodrigues.

Local businesses also helped in various ways.

Page 3 of 3 -
Home Depot offered eight pallets of bottled water Tuesday night before the town was able to order any of its own. “If it wasn’t for Home Depot, we wouldn’t have been able to get anything out,” Rivard said.